5 instances when a player squared off with his captain
Team spirit is an important concept that many teams fail to comply withFor any sport, the concept of team spirit is extremely important. Espirit de corps, as it is called, is vital for any team to endure and eventually flourish. It is the feeling of mutual respect and solidarity that separates a group from a team.The player must always put the team’s interests before his own, which goes a long way towards ensuring the team’s survival. Behind every single victorious team in any sport, is the admiration that players have for each other, and most importantly, the admiration they have for their captain.In the game of cricket as well, it is no different. Each era has seen prominent captains who have led from the front to ensure their team’s domination. Don Bradman, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh to name a few. It is the passionate camaraderie between the captain and the player that was the driving force behind their success. Stories of players backing their captains up in these teams are legendary, and it is something that several teams around the world currently lack.It could be said that success and defeat hinges on the morale of the team, which plays a huge factor during any match. There have been several occasions when players have spoken out against their fellow teammates, and even when they have faced off against their captains.Let’s look at 5 such instances when a player had a disagreement with his captain:
#5 Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs - 2010
During his career, Herschelle Gibbs sought controversy wherever he went. He was first accused of match fixing with Hansie Cronje, for which he was later banned for six months. Then, he got into trouble for smoking marijuana in 2001 after which he faced disciplinary action for making racist comments in a match against Pakistan. Even after his retirement, Gibbs continued to serve up controversy wherever he went.
In his autobiography, Out of my Comfort Zone, he specified several details about South African cricket, which tarnishes their spotless image in the cricketing circle. In this, he singled out his former captain Graeme Smith, whom he accused of running a seniors club within the South African team.
He further accused Smith of favouring the older players like Kallis, Boucher and De Villiers, while ignoring the younger players. Gibbs also described Smith of being too powerful and that Smith didnt know how to manage the players.
In response, Graeme Smith expressed his disappointment with Gibbs, and denied all that he had stated. Smith further stated that the way Gibbs had described his team spoke more about his own insecurities than that of the teams. Smith also said that the team had carried Gibbs through the difficult parts in his life, and that Gibbs statements were poor repayment.
Cricket South Africa originally planned to take legal action against Gibbs, but later resolved to terminate his contract prematurely. They made a statement saying that Gibbs had acted in bad faith, and that the termination of his contract was in the best interests of everyone.